Play Brightcove video
Prince William and Kate are spending their 14th wedding anniversary on the Isle of Mull to celebrate remote communities and support their Royal Foundation which is funding vital projects, as ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived on the Isle of Mull on Tuesday, as they celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary.
The couple – known on the Scottish island as Lord and Lady of the Isles – are making an official visit to the Inner Hebrides for the first time and it is understood to be a trip they have been keen to make for some time.
They aim to use the two-day visit to celebrate and connect with rural island communities and highlight the importance of protecting the natural environment.
The Princess of Wales in Tobermory on Tuesday Credit: PA
It is the furthest the Princess has travelled on official duties since her cancer diagnosis.
She recently said she experiences a “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” when spending time in nature, giving her a “sense of peace” in a “very busy world”.
Tuesday is the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary. Credit: PA
Kate and William, who first met in Scotland while studying at the University of St Andrews, are staying in a self-catered cottage on the Isle of Mull, in a bid to support the local tourist economy.
They began their trip on Tuesday in the town of Tobermory, where the popular children’s TV series Balamory was filmed. They also visited Aros Hall, a community hub in the heart of the town, and toured an artisan market to meet some of the island’s makers and creators.
William and Kate with stall holders during a tour of an artisan market in Tobermory Credit: PA
The Prince and Princess will also visit a local croft to learn about sustainable farming and hospitality on the island.
On Wednesday, they will visit the ancient woodland of Ardura to meet the Mull and Iona Ranger Service, which plays a role in conservation, biodiversity protection and education on the islands.
They will then take the public ferry across the water to the Isle of Iona, meeting those who run the service and members of the community who use it.
To coincide with the visit, the Royal Foundation’s Community Impact Programme has announced that it is providing two grants to community spaces on the Isle of Mull.
The partnerships are planned to enable the redesign and renovation of two community-owned halls, which provide social spaces for islanders to come together.
Aros Hall, which the Prince and Princess will visit in Tobermory, and Pennyghael Community Hall, in the rural Ross of Mull in the south, will both benefit from funding.
Melanie Waters, Executive Director of Programmes at The Royal Foundation, said: “These partnerships are an integral part of The Royal Foundation’s Community Impact programme work, mobilising unique coalitions, side by side with local communities as they boost vital community spaces, foster a stronger sense of belonging where people live and build opportunities for people and places to thrive.”
The Isle of Mull is the fourth largest island in Scotland, with a population of around 3,000 people and home to strong tourism, farming and fishing industries.
Its tiny neighbour, Iona, has a population of around 170 people but receives around 130,000 visitors a year thanks to its ancient history and traditional way of life.
This is the Talking Royals – our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson